UK Publishes Defence Investment Plan Allocating £270 Billion Over Four Years

The UK government published its defence investment plan on 30 June 2026, committing an additional £15 billion to defence for a total of £270 billion over the next four years. BBC News reported that annual spending will increase from £54 billion in 2024 to £80 billion by 2029, described by ministers as a 27 percent real-term rise and the largest since the Cold War.

The plan sets defence spending at 2.7 percent of GDP by 2030.

It allocates £63 billion to the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, warheads and infrastructure, and includes the purchase of F-35A aircraft modified to carry nuclear bombs for Nato's European Nuclear Plan, though deliveries will not occur this decade.

An additional £11 billion will replenish weapons and munitions sent to Ukraine. The plan also directs £8 billion toward a next-generation stealth combat aircraft project with Italy and Japan, £790 million toward air and missile defence systems including radars and counter-drone capabilities, and £330 million toward protecting undersea cables and energy pipelines.

The British Army will grow from 74,000 to 76,000 personnel. The Royal Navy will not replace its Type 45 destroyers with Type 83 vessels, and the Storm Shadow missile programme will end in favour of a new missile called Stratus. Typhoon jets will remain in service into the 2040s.

John Healey resigned as defence secretary on 11 June 2026. His successor Dan Jarvis secured an extra £1.5 billion for the Ministry of Defence. The 81-page document also reduces Civil Service support for defence and delays expansion of the Cadets until after 2030.